Review Articles in 2011

A major barrier to hepatitis C treatment uptake and delivery is the association of this therapy with frequent, and at times serious, adverse effects. This Review article provides a comprehensive literature review that systematically describes the adverse effects of Peg-IFN-α and ribavirin on various organ systems and, more importantly, recommends consensus approaches to managing those effects.

Prashant Kant and Mark Hull discuss the association between excess body weight and cancer risk in the gastrointestinal and hepatobiliary tract. Current understanding of the pathophysiological mechanisms is summarized, as well as the impact that weight loss has on future cancer risk. Finally, the authors describe the relationship between excess body weight and gastrointestinal cancer outcomes.

The mechanisms of drug-induced liver injury (DILI) are not well understood. In this Review, the authors propose that a bedside to bench approach involving the study of clinicopathological features of patients with DILI can provide insight into the mechanisms underlying this condition. The authors also discuss the potential role of several factors, including mitochondrial toxicity and the host immune system, in the etiopathogenesis of DILI.

The number of patients being diagnosed with pancreatic cysts is increasing dramatically owing to the widespread use of high resolution imaging modalities. This Review discusses the salient clinicopathological and molecular features of the clinically most important precursor lesions of invasive pancreatic cancer. The authors also review the latest research accomplishments in this field.

Helicobacter pyloriinfection remains a cause of significant morbidity and mortality. The development of a vaccine for this infection could be a cost effective alternative to eradication therapy. In this article, Blanchard and Czinn discuss the available evidence regarding strategies forH. pylorivaccination in humans by reviewing both animal and clinical studies. They also examine the implications of this research and highlight the challenges ahead for this field.

Although bacteria are known to have an important role in Crohn's disease, no specific groups or a single bacterium have been definitively associated with the initiation of this disease. This Review presents advances in understanding the role of bacteria and the contribution of pattern-recognition receptors and autophagy in the pathogenesis of Crohn's disease.

Research into pancreatic steatosis is expanding. The accumulation of fat in the pancreas occurs in a spectrum of diseases and has many definitions, synonyms and clinical associations that can be confusing. In this Review, Smits and Van Geenen examine the available literature on pancreatic steatosis, and provide a timely summary and clarification of the nomenclature, diagnosis, etiology and clinical consequences of this condition.

Ambulatory 24 h esophageal pH monitoring is an important tool for assessing patients with suspected GERD. Analysis of pH monitoring is currently divided into upright and recumbent periods based on the patient's body position. In this Review, the authors discuss the value of analyzing pH monitoring data based on state of consciousness rather than body position.

AlthoughHelicobacter pylori infection is both a common and a serious bacterial infection, antimicrobial therapies have rarely been optimized, are prescribed empirically, and provide inferior results compared with antimicrobial therapies for other common infectious diseases. In this Review, Rimbara and colleagues consider the available therapies for H. pyloriinfection, the problem of antimicrobial resistance and the role of susceptibility testing. They also provide practical guidance on the selection of optimal therapy and outline future research goals.

This Review describes the mechanisms that regulate colonic stem cell behavior and highlights how disrupting these mechanisms could drive the development of colorectal cancer. The authors focus on the colonic processes of niche succession, monoclonal conversion and field cancerization and discuss the implications and limitations of the cancer stem cell theory.

Hepatic cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) are the most common causes of death in patients with chronic liver disease. This Review discusses the contribution of NF-κB to chronic liver disease, with a particular focus on the role of NF-κB in different hepatic cell compartments and its effects on chronic inflammation and fibrosis as events that set the stage for the development of HCC.